GM recently announced an important decision to phase out Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto in favor of an infotainment system jointly developed with Google for future electric models. The decision sparked widespread concern and discussion, with speculation rife surrounding GM's intentions and the reasons behind it. In order to answer these questions, the head of infotainment products at General Motors recently issued an official response.
The official said that the starting point for GM's decision was the safety of the driver. In modern society, smartphones have become an indispensable part of people's lives, however, using them while driving is a very risky behavior. Driver distraction is an important cause of traffic accidents, and the use of mobile phones is one of the main forms of distracted driving. As a result, GM has been working to improve drivers' safety awareness and take various measures to reduce distracted driving situations.
However, while mobile mapping systems such as Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto have made it easier for drivers to use their smartphones in the car to some extent, they also have some problems. For example, poor connectivity, slow responses, compatibility issues, and connectivity issues can cause drivers to operate their smartphones frequently, increasing the risk of distracted driving. In addition, these phone mapping systems require the driver to connect the phone to the on-board system, which not only adds complexity to the operation, but can also lead to distraction during the connection process.
As a result, GM decided to abandon the use of mobile mapping systems such as CarPlay in favor of an infotainment system developed jointly with Google. The system will be directly connected to the on-board system, eliminating the need for the driver to make additional connection operations, reducing the risk of distracted driving. In addition, the system has better compatibility and responsiveness, which can provide a better user experience.
According to GM's infotainment product owner, using a built-in system that doesn't rely on services such as carplay can reduce the likelihood of drivers using their phones, thereby improving driving safety. This decision is also in line with GM's long-standing commitment to improving driving safety.
Of course, this decision has also sparked some controversy. Some argue that mobile mapping systems such as CarPlay and Android Auto have become standard in modern cars, and that abandoning these systems could affect the experience for some users. In addition, some are concerned that GM's infotainment system jointly developed with Google could have compatibility issues that could affect user effectiveness.
However, GM said it would work closely with Google to ensure that the new infotainment system has better compatibility and user experience. At the same time, GM will continue to pay attention to the feedback and needs of users, and continuously improve and optimize the new infotainment system to meet the needs and expectations of users.